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Mobility Rehabilitation Engineering and Research Center (RERC)

Mobility RERC Personnel

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Principal Investigator

Stephen Sprigle, PhD, PT

Stephen Sprigle, PhD, PT will serve as Principal Investigator of the mobility RERC with responsibility for overall project management. Dr. Sprigle is a Professor in the Departments of Industrial Design and Applied Physiology at Georgia Tech. Dr. Sprigle has more than 25 years of research experience and has had management and research responsibilities within four RERCs. He is a leading expert in wheelchair seating, pressure ulcer prevention, postural biomechanics, and AT outcomes and his collaborations at the national and international levels have resulted in invaluable opportunities for RERC outreach. In addition to his management duties, Dr. Sprigle will direct or co-direct the following projects:

Staff

Jason Atwood

Jason Atwood is a Research Technician with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech. He works for both the REARlab and the Mobility RERC. His work focuses on the prototyping of assistive technologies through interfacing with patients, clinicians, and AT professionals to create novel solutions to unique problems. Atwood also conducts testing on innovative seating cushion technology.

Randy Bernard, MID

Randy Bernard, MID has 11 years experience in design with an emphasis on wheeled mobility devices. He was a Co-Director of the mobility RERC prior to taking a position in the private sector as Director of Product Development. He has remained active within the mobility RERC and will serve as Co-Director of the project: Height Adjustable Wheelchair Seat to Facilitate Transfers and Reach.

Jayme Caspall, MSME

Jayme Caspall, MSME is a licensed Professional Engineer and Research Engineer II at CATEA and the School of Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech. His expertise is systems integration and he has designed a wide variety of sensors, including those used in the WhAMI system. He will direct the project: Development of Standards and Test Methods: Device to Measure Mechanical Work and Efficiency of a Manual Wheelchair.

Kevin Caves, ME, ATP, RET

Kevin Caves, ME, ATP, is a Rehabilitation Engineer at Duke University Medical Center, where he coordinates the AT Clinic and participates in the RERC on Communication Enhancement. He also teaches rehabilitation engineering at the Pratt School of Engineering. He will co-direct the two Duke projects on Improved Wheelchair Prescription.

William Delaune, PhD

William Delaune, PhD has 32 years of research experience directly related to VA Rehabilitation Programs and is currently a senior research statistical consultant for the Atlanta VA Rehab R&D Center and CATEA. As the CATEA’s Biostatistician, he will assist investigators in all projects to develop methodologies, test hypotheses and interpret results.

Maysam Ghovanloo, PhD

Maysam Ghovanloo, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Georgia Tech. His main research interests are AT, neuroprosthetic devices, and brain-computer interface systems. He will direct the project Proportional Tongue Drive System for Wheelchair / Computer Control and teach in cRE/ATe.

Fran Harris, PhD

Fran Harris, PhD is an anthropologist specializing in the areas of disability, AT, ICF outcomes, and qualitative research. In addition to her work on participation and the development of WhAMI in the current mobilityRERC, she is also directing a Work RERC effort to measure participation in the workplace. She will be the Co-Director of the project: Effects of Mobility Device and Environmental Facilitators on Activity and Participation.

Helen Hoenig, MD, MPH

Helen Hoenig, MD, MPH is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Geriatrics, Duke U. Medical School and Chief of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Durham VA. Dr. Hoenig will expand her prior RERC efforts related to mobility of elders through directing both projects on Improved Wheelchair Prescription.

Linghua Kong, PhD

Linghua Kong, PhD is a Sr. Research Scientist (ME) with extensive experience in medical device design, including several current RERC products that are being transferred to the marketplace. He will be a Co-Investigator on the following projects:

Lawrence Landerman, PhD

Lawrence Landerman, PhD has been a statistician and methodologist at Duke U. School of Medicine for 20 years. His major research interests include longitudinal research methods, functional change in the older persons, and access to health care. He will be a Co-Investigator on both projects on Improved Wheelchair Prescription.

Chris Maurer , MPT, ATP

Chris Maurer, MPT, ATP is a Seating and Mobility Clinician at Shepherd Center with 17 years of experience in AT. As part of the RERC research program on posture and function/wheeled mobility, her expertise has been critical to produce evidence relevant to service delivery. She will serve as Co-Director on the project: Improved Training to Improve Function, and Co-investigator on the projects: Inventor-Driven Product Development and Evidence-Based Online Wheelchair Seating and Positioning Course.

Tobias Meyer, MS

Tobias Meyer is a Research Engineer with a masters degree in BME from Vanderbilt University and a masters degree in EE from the University of Applied Science Magdeburg/Germany. He is part of the REAR lab and his work is focused on the development and testing of standards for wheelchair cushions. He will serve as a Co-investigator on the Development of Standards and Test Methods : Wheelchair Cushion Standards.

Michelle Nemeth, PT, CCRP

Michelle E. Nemeth, PT, CCRP is a physical therapist and clinical research scientist at the Shepherd Center Crawford Research Institute. She has 19 years of clinical experience in the areas of adult, adolescent and child neurological rehabilitation, intensive care, medical surgical and wound care. Michelle also has 10 years of management experience and 3 years of clinical research experience. She will serve as a Project Director on the Height Adjustable Wheelchair Seat to Facilitate Transfers and Reach and as a Co-Investigator on two projects: Creating Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Experiences (cRE/ATe) and Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Susceptibility and Pressure Relief Effectiveness.

Jon Sanford, M.Arch

Jon Sanford, M.Arch. Co-Director of the Work RERC, an Adjunct Associate Professor of Architecture and a Research Architect at the Atlanta VA Rehab R&D Center. He is one of a few architecturally-trained rehabilitation researchers with expertise in environmental barriers to mobility. He will co-direct the project: Effects of Mobility Device and Environmental Facilitators on Activity and Participation and will direct Evidence-Based Online Wheelchair Seating and Positioning Course and the State of Science Conference on Wheeled Mobility in Everyday Life.

Sharon Sonenblum, PhD

Sharon Sonenblum, PhD completed a doctorate in Bioengineering from Georgia Tech in August of 2009. For her dissertation, she studied the use and biomechanical effects of power tilt-in-space wheelchairs. Sharon has also played an important role in the REAR Lab’s work on monitoring of wheelchair use, activity and participation and has an interest in pressure ulcer causation and prevention. She will be an investigator on the project: Pressure Ulcer Prevention: Susceptibility and Pressure Relief Effectiveness.

Leslie Taylor, Ph.D. PT

Leslie Taylor, Ph.D. PT is an Associate Professor and Division Head of Physical Therapy (Doctor of Physical Therapy Program), Georgia State University. Dr. Taylor has 25 years of clinical practice and research related to physical activity interventions. She is a Co-investigator on the project: the innovative wheelchair Tai Chi program.

Hsiang-Yu (Claire) Yang, OTD, OTR/L

Hsiang-Yu (Claire) Yang, OTD, OTR/L, is a research scientist I at Georgia Institute of Technology’s Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access. She is also an Occupational Therapist with a specialty in assistive technology evaluation. Ms. Yang had been working at an assistive technology center in Taiwan and later came to the US and received her Occupational Therapy Doctorate degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Ms. Yang had participated in quantitative and qualitative research on assistive technology, home modifications, and environmental influences on older adults. Her research interests include assistive technology, environmental access, participation, and the elderly population.

Yong "Tai" Wang, Ph.D., FACSM

Yong "Tai" Wang, Ph.D., FACSM is a professor, Tai Chi master and Director of the Biomechanics and Wheelchair Locomotion Laboratory in the Division of Physical Therapy, Georgia State University. Dr. Wang’s research focus includes kinetic analyses and neuromuscular function of wheelchair locomotion; and physical and mental benefits of Tai Chi. He directs the projects: Improved Training to Improve Function: an innovative wheelchair Tai Chi program and: Improved Training to Improve Function: advanced wheelchair skills training.

Graduate Students

Young Mi Choi

Young Mi Choi is a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Architecture with a concentration in Industrial Design. Her current project is a study for her dissertation titled "The Impact of User Input During the Design of an Assistive Technology Product."

Phuc Dao

Phuc Dao is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering specializing in dynamics and vibrations. He graduated with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech’s 5-year MS/BS program in May 2006. For his research project, he is working with Jayme Caspall, Dr. Sprigle, and Dr. Ferri on the Anatomical Model Propulsion System (AMPS).

Matt Eicholtz

Matt Eicholtz is a M.S. graduate student in Mechanical Engineering specializing in mechatronics and dynamics. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in May 2009. His current research projects include the Anatomical Model Propulsion System (AMPS) as well as an inertia measurement device for manual wheelchairs.

Ricardo Lopez

Ricardo is an Electrical Engineer from Peru. He is a former Fulbright Fellow and is currently working towards his doctoral degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. His work with the MRERC involves the design of hardware needed for wheelchair movement monitoring.

Advisory Board

Steve Bauer, PhD
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
Co-PI, Technology Transfer RERC

Evan Call, MS
EC Service, Inc.
Lab Director

Barb Crane, PhD, PT, ATP
University of Hartford
Assistant Professor; Coordinator, Wheelchair Assessment Services

Trevor Dyson-Hudson, MD
Research Scientist, Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research & Education Corporation
Research Scientist

David Ellis, PhD
EGL Holdings, Inc.
President and Managing Partner

Marie Latta, MA
Accessibility Consultant

Charles Levy, MD
N. Florida / S. Georgia Veterans Health System, University of Florida
Chief of Physical Med. & Rehabilitation Service;
Assoc. Professor, UF Dept. of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation

James Rimmer
Professor, Department of Disability & Human Development, University of Illinois- Chicago
Director, RecTech RERC & National Center on Physical Activity and Disability





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